Neuvillette's POV
Oh god, what have I done?!
I slid down against the side of the bathtub in embarrassment.
I pretty much dragged him into my bed!
No, it was worse!
I had demanded he get me to bed before guilt-tripping him into getting in bed with me!
God!
I couldn't even keep my hands off!
Seriously Neuvillette!
Hugging him is one thing! Sleeping in his arms, sprawled out over his chest is another!
I buried my face in my hands as water fell on me from the shower head.
Oh, how I would love to drown in this tub right now.
How can I even face him now?!
What the hell is wrong with me?!
I've never insisted Zhongli, Baizhu, or even Snow come to sleep in my bed.
On the contrary. From the bits and pieces I've heard from them, they usually aren't even allowed in my room.
But Wriothesley...
He was there...
And I made him stay...
And-
Ugh!
Why is liking someone so troublesome!?
I feel like I will go insane at this rate!
I am swamped with questions I do not have answers to!
And above all else...
I groaned as I remembered the small note I found saved in my phone when I looked at it just after Wriothesley left.
'I told Wriothesley that I like him! He said we would talk about it tomorrow!'
That was it.
That was all of it.
It is a habit of mine to leave small notes of important things that happen in case I forget but this...
And we have most definitely not talked about this!
Is this the thing he was so obviously avoiding talking about?!
Is this a rejection?
Do you sleep with and cook breakfast for someone you want to reject?
I don't know.
I seriously have no idea about any of this!
Maybe I should...
Yeah. I should just call Zhongli while Wriothesley is showering later.
Since I don't know what to make of any of this, It's better to ask someone with experience.
Having decided that, I hurried my shower along, got dressed, and quickly dried my hair to the point where I wouldn't catch a cold at least.
I got to the kitchen to find a table full of French toast, freshly cut fruit, a variety of other toppings, and...
Tea...
"I wasn't too sure what you prefer to eat it with. Wait. Do you like French toast in the first place? Oh god, I should have asked! If you don't please just give me 10 minutes and I'll make you something else. 10 minutes! I'll be back in ten minutes!" Wriothesley rambled without giving me a chance to interrupt.
And without actually waiting for an answer to his question, he slipped out of the kitchen and disappeared up the stairs.
...
Did he perhaps... have to rush to the toilet?
Well, no matter. His worries were unnecessary. While it was not my favorite thing to eat, I don't dislike French toast.
Since Wriothesley would be back soon I quickly grabbed a piece of French toast, sprinkled some powdered sugar on it, and added a few fruits to my plate as well before calling Zhongli.
Let's hope I'm able to get some answers.
-
Zhongli's POV
"I want to go back to sleep..." Ajax groaned, lying face down on the table.
"Wasn't it you who said you wanted to accompany me to work?" I asked amused.
"You never said you would wake me up at 6:30 in the morning!" He protested.
"I always wake up at 6:30 in the morning. This time I just woke you up as well. At your request, mind you."
"Jerk." He spat out.
"Just eat your breakfast." I sighed, pushing a plate of food in front of him.
Contrary to his previous protests, as soon as the smell of food hit him he sat up properly and looked at the plate with a whole lot of interest.
"When did you have time to make all of this?" He asked with wonder.
"While you were dozing off on the table just now."
"I was not-"
"It is now almost 7:30." I interrupted him.
Ajax only groaned in response and started eating.
I was about to start my breakfast as well when my phone went off.
"Hey! I thought you said no work before we actually get to your office!" Ajax protested immediately.
"I did say that. That is why I muted all calls except from a select few-"
My voice cut off when I saw Neuvillette's name appear on my screen.
He is calling this early?
Did something happen?
Was something wrong?
Why is he awake this early?
He is always so exhausted after taking that medicine that he sleeps in.
Why is he awake now?
Ajax probably saw my sudden burst of panic because he grabbed his plate and pulled his chair over to sit at my side, looking at the caller ID with some understanding.
"Won't you answer?" He asked, snapping me out of my daze.
"Right."
Right. I should answer.
"Put it on speaker." Ajax added, looking ready for some drama.
I sighed but still put the call on speaker when I answered my phone.
"Good morning-"
"Zhongli... I need your help..." Neuvillette interrupted my words.
He sounded...
How should I describe this...
He didn't sound fine.
Not even as fine as he usually is after a go with that medicine.
He sounded anxious but at the same time excited. Like a good kind of excitement.
"Something wrong, Neuvillette?" I asked worriedly.
"Yes. No. I don't know. I don't seem to know anything, Zhongli..."
"Hey. Hey, come now, Neuvillette. Tell me what's wrong. Slowly."
There was a long silence. So long that I shared a worried look with Ajax.
But before I could get too worried, Neuvillette spoke again.
"So you know how I never remember what I do after I take that medicine?"
"Yes."
"My memory is entirely blank from between lunch yesterday and when I woke up this morning. To be precise, when I woke up this morning in bed with Wriothesley."
I nearly dropped my phone and next to me, Ajax choked on his food.
"Excuse me? You woke up where?"
"In bed with Wriothesley. Lying on top of him, to be precise. Not the point."
That is SO the point right now!
That is definitely a point that needs to be discussed!
Right now!
"Neuvillette-"
"So I woke up like that and naturally I was shocked so I asked him to tell me how we ended up here. He told me that I- He told me that I asked him to-"
Come on, Neuvillette!
You are gonna kill me like this!
Even Ajax looks like he is about to explode from anticipation!
"He told me that I asked him to bring me upstairs from the living room because I was tired and he had to carry me up because I wouldn't stop clinging to him. Then when he wanted to leave me to sleep I demanded that he stay and sleep with me. He had refused at first but then I started crying and he eventually gave in." Neuvillette fired off quickly.
"What? Wait. Neuvillette-"
"And then at some point, we fell asleep and I had a nightmare from which he woke me up. I didn't hurt him so that's good, but things happened and I woke up in his arms and a few buttons on my shirt were undone and two ripped off and it was half hanging off of me and I don't remember why!"
"Neuvillette, please slow down a bit-"
"And you know how I leave small notes for myself when something very important happens? Yes? Okay. So I found one and it said that I told Wriothesley that I like him and he said we would talk about it today but he hasn't mentioned a single word of it so is that a rejection? But at the same time, he made me breakfast so maybe it wasn't a rejection? I don't know. I really don't know. Would going out shopping just the two of us be counted as a date? Zhongli? Zhongli! Hello?"
I could hear him but I couldn't exactly answer.
My brain had mostly shut off at the-
"So you slept with that guy?"
"Yes. Yes, I did, but that's seriously not the most important thing here is it?" Neuvillette grumbled annoyedly.
It kind of is though.
But before I could voice my thoughts Ajax suddenly covered my mouth and took my phone from me.
"Hey, Neuvillette! This is Ajax!" He said cheerfully.
"Huh? Oh, hello. Good morning, Ajax." Neuvillette answered.
"Good morning to you too. Now back to your questions. That Wriothesley guy probably doesn't know what to do with your confession so give him a bit of time, okay? Not as long as I gave your idiot brother, but at least enough time to sort through his thoughts. Since he slept with you and made you breakfast it is safe to assume he likes you too at least somewhat, so don't worry too much. As for the shopping... Yes, that could be counted as a date. Getting lunch together, just the two of you would be a nice addition to it as well." Ajax spoke calmly.
"Oh... Lunch.. Okay! Thank you! He is done showering apparently so I got to go! I'll call you back later. Bye!"
And before I could stop him Neuvillette ended the call.
"Ajax!"
I tried to snatch my phone back to call Neuvillette but Ajax held it just outside my reach.
"Return my phone!"
"Nope. I won't. If I do, you'll just go real your poor brother out more than he already is." He said, still stubbornly holding my phone away from me.
"He. Just. Slep. With. Someone. This is the first time since he was- You know damn well why I'm so anxious! This is the first time it was actually consensual! If it was! We don't know! We can't know unless you return my damn phone! Who knows whether or not that bastard is just lying to Neuvillette about what happened!" I insisted.
"You won't know even if I give you your phone back since Neuvillette doesn't remember anything."
"Still-"
"Xiansheng, you should think a bit more calmly about this. Think about what Neuvillette is like. Maybe by sleeping together, he meant it literally. Like, they cuddled or something. As you do with someone who woke up from a nightmare." Ajax said flatly.
"Even Neuvillette knows better than-"
"Oh, I don't know. He sounded pretty freaked out. I'm not sure he is able to think as far as double meanings. Especially not in the... sexual regard."
I could hear his words but I couldn't find it in myself to think too much about them at the moment.
The only thing I could think about is how I would kill that damn bastard who touched my baby brother when he was at his most vulnerable!
"I will kill that bastard." I ground out through my teeth.
"You aren't listening to me are you, Xiansheng?"
"I will rip him to pieces..."
"Yeah, I give up. Good luck, Neuvillette. You will need it with a brother like this." Ajax sighed.